New year. New semester. Same students returning to campus… but are their approaches to the spring going to be the same as the fall?
St. Joseph’s University, New York welcomed students back to the Brooklyn and Long Island campuses Monday, Jan. 23, after a much-needed winter break. We caught up with a few of those students to see how they’re feeling as the semester begins.
Watch the video below, or read on to hear more from the students.
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Cristina Costantino ’23
Most excited for: I recently founded the Book Club, and I’m most excited to see how much success we have throughout the semester and to host all of the events that my board and I created.
Biggest challenge: I’m really good at time management, but I always put a lot on myself; I’m a part of many organizations on campus and I work at two offices on campus, so definitely time management.
Advice to first-semester self: Get involved. Being involved on campus will take you so much further. If you just go to your classes and go straight home, you’re not going to have that full college experience, as we are a commuter university.
Christian Chimborazo ’26
Most excited for: I’m looking forward to completing all my credits and getting all A’s and above.
Biggest challenge: Time management. I’m trying to organize time for myself, work and school.
Advice to first-semester self: I would tell my first-semester self that he should manage his time correctly because it could be a struggle.
Amanda Segovia ’25
Child Study Major with a Concentration in Psychology
Most excited for: I’m looking forward to very many events within SGA. I’m president of Circle K, and we have so many things planned that I’m excited for. Another thing I’m excited for is it’s my first semester observing in an elementary school classroom, so I’m just waiting to get placed.
Biggest challenge: Keeping everything afloat because I tend to kind of fall under and then panic toward the end of the semester. So doing everything according to plan and not waiting until the very end. Procrastination is really big for me.
Advice to first-semester self: Talk to people more. Now that I’m coming out of my shell a little bit, I have a lot more fun and I make a lot more friends. So just be less shy and be more open.
Julia Marin ’26
Most excited for: I’m looking forward to taking classes that are toward my major. I’m taking three political sciences classes so that’s what I’m looking forward to most.
Biggest challenge: I’m taking two three-hour political science classes so that’s probably going to be a challenge for me, trying to stay attentive in those classes and making sure I’m on top of everything.
Advice to first-semester self: Take all the experiences given to you. Meet as many new people as possible, because you don’t know the relationships you’ll build with them. And don’t take your education for granted.
